I Shot The Sheriff

by Eric Clapton
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Lyrics

(Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I did not shoot the (Gm)dep u ty.

I shot the sher iff,

but I did n’t shoot the (Gm)dep u ty.

of fense.

Sher iff a John round in my (Gm)home ed town,

they’re (Ebmaj7)try ing to (Dm7)track me down.

They (Dm7)ev ’ry time to bring me in guilt y a seed, for the (Ebmaj7)kill ing of a (Dm7)dep u (Gm)ty,

for the (Ebmaj7)life of a (Dm7)dep u (Gm)ty.

But I say:

(Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I swear it was in (Gm)self de fense.

I shot the sher iff,

and they say it is a (Gm)cap i tal of fense.

Sher iff a John Brown al ways (Gm)hat ed me;

for (Ebmaj7)what, ing to (Dm7)I don’t know.

And (Dm7)ev ’ry time to bring that I plant y a seed, he said, (Ebmaj7)“Kill ing it be (Dm7)fore it (Gm)grows.”

He said, (Ebmaj7)“Kill it be (Dm7)fore it (Gm)grows.”

But I say:

(Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I swear it was in (Gm)self de fense.

I shot the sher iff,

but I swear it was in (Gm)self de fense.

Free dom came my get the one bet (Gm)ter of me,

and I start ed out of (Gm)town, yeah.

All of a (Dm7)sud den I see (Gm)Sher iff John Brown

but one day the bot tom me will (Gm)down, out.

so I (Dm7)shot, Yes, one day the I shot him (Gm)down.

out.

But I (CN.C.)say:

(Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I did not shoot the (Gm)dep u ty.

I shot the sher iff,

but I did n’t shoot the (Gm)dep u ty.

Free Re flex es get the one bet (Gm)ter of me,

and what is to be must (Gm)be.

yeah.

Ev er y (Dm7)day the buck et (Gm)goes to the well,

but one day the bot tom me will (Gm)drop out.

so I (Dm7)shot, Yes, one day the bot tom will (Gm)drop out.

But I (CN.C.)say:

(Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I did n’t shoot the (Gm)dep u ty.

I shot the sher iff,

but I did not shoot no (Gm)dep u ty.

I Shot The Sheriff — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

10 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "I Shot The Sheriff" by Eric Clapton: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of Eb, 95 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “I Shot The Sheriff”

What key is "I Shot The Sheriff" by Eric Clapton played in?
I Shot The Sheriff is arranged in the key of Eb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "I Shot The Sheriff"?
The arrangement plays at 95 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "I Shot The Sheriff" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "I Shot The Sheriff"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "I Shot The Sheriff"?
"I Shot The Sheriff" was originally performed by Eric Clapton. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "I Shot The Sheriff"?
This arrangement uses 5 chords: C, Cm, Dm7, Ebmaj7, Gm.
What other songs by Eric Clapton can I play here?
Try "RUNNING ON FAITH", "BELIEVE IN LIFE", "MY FATHER'S EYES". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "I Shot The Sheriff" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "I Shot The Sheriff" by Eric Clapton. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "I Shot The Sheriff" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in Eb, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "I Shot The Sheriff" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.